While lavender and irrigation may be Sequim’s calling cards, the city’s heart remains the downtown core.

City of Sequim planners previously defined — and city councilors approved — the downtown core from Third Avenue to Matriotti Avenue, and Spruce Street to Maple Street.

It’s filled with dozens of shops, restaurants, services and places to relax while continuing to host staples such as the Sequim Farmers and Artisans Market from May-October, and the First Friday Art Walk.

However, like so much during the COVID-19 pandemic across the globe, downtown Sequim has seen — and continues to experience — change.

Included is a recent list of changes in the downtown core, including business closures, openings, ownership changes, hours of operation and more.

Note: If a certain business is not listed, its owner/manager either could not be reached, declined an interview, and/or said hours and operations remain the same. If we missed an update, contact Matthew Nash at mnash@sequimgazette.com.

Purchases

• Tribe buys downtown business space

In the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe’s February Tribal Newsletter, W. Joe Allen, economic development authority director for the tribe, announced they purchased multiple building spaces along West Washington Street and North Sequim Avenue, including the Sequim Trading Plaza.

Some of the current 11 rental spaces include Hurricane Coffee Co., Cedarbrook Lavender, Bauer Interior Designs, Lavish Day Spa and Pacific Mist Books.

The tribe also purchased the parking lot behind the businesses and the former doctor’s office at 103 W. Cedar St. adjacent to the Sequim Civic Center.

Landmark Property Management will contract with the tribe to handle applications and leases, according to the newsletter. The tribe does not own any of the current tenants’ businesses.

Tentative plans include updating signage to give it “the Jamestown look,” closing the alleyway between Hurricane Coffee Co. and Cedarbrook Lavender to vehicle traffic, converting the former doctor’s office into a tribal cultural center and/or gallery, Allen said.

If space becomes vacant, the tribe may move its Jamestown Capital Offices to one space, and possibly open a second Cedar Greens Cannabis store location, according to the newsletter.

The tribe has already agreed to work with the Sequim Farmers and Artisans Market to allow them to use some of their space on Saturdays.

Allen could not be reached for comment by press time.

The Rusting Rooster and Whimsy Park are now owned by Jose’s Famous Salsa’s Jose and Angee Garcia with plans to add outdoor seating.

Jose’s buys neighboring lots

• Owners of Jose’s Famous Salsa, 126 E. Washington St., purchased the adjacent Whimsy Park and Rusting Rooster properties (three lots) to the east with plans for outdoor seating, owners said. It’s open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, and 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday. 360-681-8598, josesfamoussalsa.com.

New ownership

• At Cedarbrook Lavender, 120 W. Washington St., Ashley and Aaron Possin recently took on ownership of the farm and shop from longtime owners Gary and Marcella Stachurski. The couples continue to work together through the transition with assistance from the previous owners. The Possins moved here from Spokane two years ago. Ashley said she and her family are invested in the business, including their children, Ashley’s parents and sisters. They want to “build, embrace, and expand,” she said, with plans to plant 3,600 lavender plants this spring at their new property. At the store, “everything is made by hand and all products are healthy,” Ashley said. 360-683-7733, cedarbrooklavender.com.

• Wildwood Coffee Lounge, formerly Suzon’s Coffee Lounge, 145 W. Washington St., took on new ownership last May and recently rebranded itself. It’s open from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. 510-206-1976, facebook.com/wildwoodcoffeelounge.

Special project

• Centennial Plaza at the northeast corner of Sequim Avenue and Washington Street: City of Sequim staff say the “Sequim Understory” project that rethinks and redesigns the corner has slowed due to staffing and city council changes. Per Barbara Hanna, Sequim’s communications and marketing director: “We should have our new Arts Coordinator on board in late February and then we will start to talk about the next step options to present to Council on how to best move forward. This is a really important project so we wanted to make sure that we had the right people in place to do it right.”

Openings

• The Dance Center by Erica Edwards, 145 W. Washington St., opened in the former Sequim Gym space and offers multiple classes, including for children: ballet, jazz, hip-hop, musical theatre, and tap; and for adults: ballet/jazz, tap, and fitness. 360-670-4600, eedancecenter.com.

• Hiraeth Salon, 151 W. Washington St., a full-service salon, is now open from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday in the former Sequim Beauty Salon/Fazio’s Barbershop spaces. A massage therapist is coming soon. 360-808-1579.

• Pacific Mist Bookstore, 121 W. Washington St., re-opened last November and added two days to be open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Contact: 360-683-1396.

• Sequim Computer Services, 245 E. Washington St., relocated to Sequim about a year ago and offer installs, repairs, A+ certified, Apple repair and more. Its open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. 360-831-9259, sequimcomputerservices.com.

Relocated

• Nikola Broadband and Nikola Engineering, moved from its former location at 224 W. Washington. St., to 615 N. Fifth Avenue in late 2021. The technology‌ ‌development‌ ‌firm‌ ‌serves under‌ ‌and‌ ‌unserved‌ ‌areas‌ ‌in‌ ‌and‌ ‌around‌ ‌Sequim‌ ‌with‌ ‌high speed‌ ‌internet.‌ Staff say the new space offers them room to grow and secure and isolated space for server colocation and audio device testing. (360) 582-1051, http://www.nikolabroadband.com/.

• Purple Haze closed its downtown store after 20-plus years to expand and continue shipping and operations from its popular farm at 180 Bell Bottom Road. purplehazelavender.com. Brown Maloney, the former downtown store’s building owner, said there’s strong interest in leasing the former space. He said three other businesses along that side of the street committed to or plan to renew leases soon, too.

Looking ahead

• Sequim Kabob House, 173 W. Washington St., was temporarily closed but plans to reopen in the coming weeks after repainting the space.

• Sunshine Cafe, 145 W. Washington St., temporarily closed late last year and plans to open in the coming month with more details to come, ownership said.

• Wind Rose Cellars, 143 W Washington St, continues to operate 1-6 p.m. Thursday-Friday, and 1-8 p.m. Saturday at its existing location with plans to move nearby to a larger location in the coming months. More details to come; windrosecellars.com and facebook.com/windrosecellars.

Hours offered

• A Stitch in Time, 225 E. Washington St., changed its hours to 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. It’s also offering new classes with information at its website astitchintimequiltshoppe.com. 360-504-2183.

• David Family Taqueria, 300 E. Washington St., recently returned to its original hours of 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday, after opening early last year. 360-681-5124.

• Dynasty, 380 E. Washington St., is open only for takeout from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. 360-681-6511.

• Forage Gifts and Northwest Treasures, 121 W. Washington St., opens 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, seasonally on Sundays, and from 5-7 p.m. each First Friday Art Walk. Updates posted at facebook.com/foragegiftssequim. 360-797-1018, foragegifts.com.

• Moon Palace, 323 E. Washington St., changed its hours to 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, and noon -8 p.m. Saturdays with no more Sunday buffets during the pandemic. 360-683-6898.

• Over the Fence, 118 E. Washington St., opens from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday. Owners say they are “doing great business (and) running to keep up with it” and that shortened hours have allowed them to enjoy other things. 360-681-6851, overthefencehome.com.

• Pondicherri, 119 E. Washington St., added new days opening from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. 360-681-4431, pondicherrionline.net, facebook.com/pondicherrisequim.

• R&T Crystals ‘n’ Beads, 158 E. Bell St., is now open seven days a week from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. 360-681-5087, facebook.com/RtCrystalsnBeads.

• Sequim-Dungeness Hospital Guild Thrift Shop, 204 E. Bell St., open for donations only from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays; open for sales 10 a.m.-4 p.m. March 3-5.

• Shadowline Burgers and Brews, 179 W. Washington St., opened last May and is open 11:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday, and noon-8 p.m. Saturday. 360-683-8117, Shadowlineburgers.com.

• Solar City, 135 W. Washington St., #C, expanded its offerings with new brands, shoes and books from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday. 360-681-7299, solarcitysequim.com.

• Swallow’s Nest, 123 E. Washington St., is now open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday. 360-681-8909, facebook.com/SwallowsNest81.

• Tedesco’s Italian Fresh, 210 W. Washinton St.; 4-8 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday; special opening for Valentine’s Day, Monday, Feb. 14 from 4-8 p.m. 360-504-3821; tedescosfresh.com.

• Village Clock Shop, 170 E Bell St., is no longer accepting clocks for repair as of Feb. 1 because of its current backlog, according to a sign on its door. Open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Fridays with house calls Monday and Wednesday by appointment. 360-681-3301.

Closed

• Back Alley Cafe, 138 W. Washington St., opened early last summer and announced in January its permanent closure, writing on Instagram, “We hope that we inspired you to eat healthier and that you can continue your journey to a healthy lifestyle. We appreciate and thank you so much for your support and your friendship from the very beginning.”

• Cole’s Jewelers, 117 E. Washington St., held a going-out-of-business sale in November after 55 years in the community.

In the past year there have been dozens of changes in downtown Sequim with more anticipated in the coming months with new businesses and owners coming in.

Sunshine Cafe is one of a few downtown eateries slated to reopen soon.

Suzon’s Coffee Lounge now goes by Wildwood Coffee Lounge at 145 W. Washington St., under new management as of last May. Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen

Sequim Gazette photos by Emily Matthiessen Ashley Possin, left, talks with Christina Norman of WeDo Fudge in Cedarbrook Lavender last week. Possin and her husband Aaron bought the downtown business with plans to add more than 3,000 lavender plants to their property this spring.